Capítulo 14: Returning back
IMPORTANT-**To learn about the King's background (prequel) please read a few chapters of volume 2 that starts from chapter 561**
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She didn't know why, but Madeline found it hard to tear her eyes away from the man. Though there were no chains or ropes that bound her, strangely she felt captive under his eyes. Like an iron being attracted to magnets, she finally felt herself relax when the woman who was with him spoke, taking his attention but not all of it.
Madeline tried to not look at the man and instead at the person who she was dancing with. She couldn't help but wonder who he was, someone like a phantom who had taken her name but had not returned it with his.
"Who is it?" she heard Mr. Hane ask her.
Her light eyebrows drew together, "What?"
"You are here, yet you are not at the same time. I believe you must be thinking of someone," said Mr. Hane, his expression lax, looking at the crowd around them before his eyes fell on hers, "Pardon me for my directness," he apologized quickly.
"No, that's alright," she pursed her lips, "I am not used to attending balls or anything close to this," she made the reason to see him smile as if he bought it.
"I can tell that. If you don't mind my asking, where do you live, Miss Madeline?" he asked her. Her hand was in his hand, up in the air as they took two steps front and one step back now.
"In East Carswell. How about yourself, Mr. Hane?" she inquired.
"I am from Holt. It isn't far from the castle. I work here for the King," he added as it was a feather in one's cap to be under the favour and work of the King.
"It must be nice serving the King," she commented on seeing the man smile who took pride in his work.
When Madeline reached close to where her sister was, dancing with the obvious handsome man as the mask that he wore barely hid his face, she heard her sister speak to her,
"Where did you go earlier? I tried finding you in the room," said Beth and Madeline wondered if her sister even stepped out of the dance room.
There were plenty of men who were eyeing Beth and wanted to have her dance. Beth attracted a lot of attention with the ease she moved and talked; it was elegant and ladylike. Her sister was ambitious, wanting a better life for herself while Madeline didn't mind having the same life she had now. A small house, a small family who loved her and she could love back. It was the most she could ask for herself, and her ambition didn't even reach half of what Beth had. From a young age, Beth had grown up by aiming for a better life which was away from the village and her family supported her in it.
"I went for some air," Madeline answered, "Mother and father said the castle is beautiful, but they didn't get to look all."
"Would you like to take a tour around the castle?" Mr. Hane asked Madeline that had even Beth's eyebrows raise as her partner had not requested to any such offer. For a spare moment, Madeline's eyes shifted to look at the man who wore a silver mask who was still listening and humouring the woman with him.
"I wouldn't want to impose on you," Madeline quickly answered before her sister would agree to Mr. Hane's request. And as expected Madeline's words were ignored as Beth said,
"I am sure one walk wouldn't matter, Maddie," Beth turned to look at Mr. Hane with a laugh and said, "Madeline is a village girl who is used to cows and sheep. She hasn't seen the castle well to know how fascinating it is. She doesn't know what she is saying so don't mind her. Do you know the way around the castle?" she asked Mr. Hane.
"I do, milady," answered Mr. Hane in a polite tone.
"Oh, that's great. Maybe one of the days's in a possible future I will ask you to accompany me," Beth gave the man a look and a smile. The couples had to switch positions and move away from each other.
Madeline felt slightly awkward with the way her sister had spoken about her interests. Mr. Hane seeing the girl quiet, didn't ask about what Beth said right away. Not because he thought Madeline was a village girl but because he could sense she wanted to step away from the dance floor.
"Elder siblings can be pushy at times, isn't it?" Mr. Hane tried to break the ice of quietness Madeline had placed around her. She met Mr. Hane's gaze, where he was smiling, "I have a distant cousin who is older to me."
"Beth is good but sometimes she can get..."
"Pushy and taking attention?" asked Mr. Hane to see Madeline smile, "If you're still willing to look at the castle, I will have the permission taken so that you can have sightseen. It is a beautiful castle."
"Indeed, it is," she answered, thankful that the man had been understanding but she didn't reply to his offer to look at the castle.
When the dance was over, she was glad, and she returned to her parents while Beth continued the night, showing how well she could dance. Some, looked at her with envy in their eyes while some didn't like how a new woman had come to take place on the dance floor.
Though there were some men who eyed Madeline, no one took the courage of going to walk towards her and request her for a dance.
When Beth arrived finally, leaving another couple to take the empty spot she had left, Mrs. Harris said,
"Mr. Gavell came looking for you with other two men, Beth. He had nothing but praises for you," Madeline could tell that her mother was pleased with the number of suitors who were planning to come to visit their home to ask Beth's hand.
"He is charming, isn't he, mama," Beth agreed, turning her head and looking at the crowd. She took the handkerchief in her hand and dabbed her forehead, "He said he has two houses. He's working under the court, and he told me he travels to other lands."
"Well, that's good," her mother couldn't be any happier, but Beth still didn't look satisfied.
Beth's eyes searched for one person, hoping it would be a King or one of the men she had danced with would be the King in disguise, "Did you see the King, mama?" asked Beth.
"I don't think anyone announced about his arrival," Madeline was the one to answer. The King had created enough intrigue to have people hoping they would catch a glimpse of him.
"A shame that we didn't get to see him," murmured Mrs. Harris.
Beth, who was high with excitement in the ball and having spent time with men flattering every few minutes, said, "Maybe he is scared to be here," she laughed.
"Beth!" her mother immediately shushed her. If word was to reach about what Beth said to the King, she would be punished for speaking ill of their King.
While some of them continued dancing in the ballroom, most had gone to eat and the people from the village ate everything and anything as a lot of things were new which they would not be seeing unless there would be another ball which was not going to be held anytime soon.
When the time came to leave the castle, Madeline's eyes looked at the building that stood tall and proud before she stepped inside the carriage after her sister had gone to sit. Her eyes looked out of the small window, and she continued to watch.
"What are you searching for outside?" It was Beth who questioned looking at her younger sister who appeared to be nervous every now and then until they had got inside the carriage.
Madeline turned back, "Nothing."
The carriage finally started and left the castle far behind when Beth, who had been curious about something, asked, "Who was that man who danced with you?"
"Mr. Hane?" asked Madeline, "Mama was the one to ask him," she shook her head, remembering the time it had happened.
"He was a good man! He was tall, polite, kind and I could tell you had a good time dancing," her mother gave her knowing look which was not true, but she didn't have the heart to break the bubble, and she went along with it.
"No, not Mr. Hane. The first one was it? The one with the full mask," Beth inquired, her curious green eyes looking at her sister.
Beth was interested in knowing who it was because the man had not once come to ask her for dance even though there were many openings for him to ask. He was one of the few men who had not danced with her. It made her hand grip the bottom of her dress that Madeline had been asked, while the same man didn't ask her. Not to forget, her sister had gone missing for some good time from the ballroom.
Madeline, on the other hand, didn't know how to go about it. She could still feel the way his eyes had looked at her, studying her face when she removed the mask from her face.
"I didn't catch his name because of the music. He spoke very low. I didn't get somethings he spoke to me," Madeline gave out a small laugh. She could feel Beth's stare when she looked outside the window with a look of suspicion in her eye.
Beth knew that was not true. When Madeline had stepped on to the dance floor, her eyes had followed her sister to see who the man was who was dancing with her. And by the looks of it, she doubted her sister was lying.
Capítulo 15: Sisterly affection
Upon returning home, Madeline removed the dress that she wore and the pins that were pushed into her hair, freeing her blonde hair where she weaved her hand through to comb it. The dress was neatly folded and placed at the side so that she could return it along with the other dresses her family had rented from Mr. Heathcliff.
Taking the brush from the dressing table, Madeline started to brush her hair when she heard her sister Beth say,
"Lady Catherine must really like Mr. Heathcliff, isn't it?" Beth was still looking at the red dress that she had worn, which was sad that she would have to part from it tomorrow morning.
Madeline, who was moving her hand, removing the knots of her hair, said, "Is it because she invited him to the ball?"
"Of course, why else would a woman of her status ask a man who belongs to the middle class," asked Beth tearing her gaze away from her dress and standing up from the bed to start folding it, "If I am not wrong, I heard from Mrs. Lanton that there had been many suitors who have been showing at her doorstep. She could have picked one of them, but instead, she picked Mr. Heathcliff."
Madeline continued to brush her hair, "Mr. Heathcliff is a good looking man. He has a decent job."
"I would agree on him being good looking, but being a tailor is barely a job, Maddie," said Beth, waving her hand, "We know he works for the King and his subjects who live in the castle but if he were that important why did the King miss to send an invitation to him?"
"Maybe the person who was dealing with the invitation forgot to put his name?" Madeline did find it to be strange that Mr. Heathcliff didn't receive an invitation tonight but thanks to Lady Catherine he did get to attend the ball.
"Hmm," Beth made a disagreeing sound with her closed mouth, "Maybe he did something disagreeable. Did he dance with you?" Beth knew he didn't because the man had undoubtedly only danced with Lady Catherine and no one else.
Madeline shook her head, looking at her sister through the mirror, she said, "He was busy. It would have been rude to leave Lady Catherine's side when she was the one who invited him," she mustered a small smile.
Beth seeing the look on her sister's face, placed the dress next to Madeline's dress before going to stand behind her sister, "I know you like Mr. Heathcliff, and the man gives you eyes, Madeline but a man who couldn't even ask you for a dance, do you think he shares the same feelings as you do? I am sure men and women have danced with more than one partner tonight," she placed both her hands on Madeline's shoulders, "I don't mean to discourage you, but the man needs to know to take the initiative. I don't know what prevented him from asking you to dance, and you look beautiful tonight."
"Thank you, Beth," Madeline placed one of her hands on Beth's hand that was on her shoulders.
Madeline, who was about to tell Beth that Mr. Heathcliff had asked her out, decided not to speak about it for now. After all, they were going to their aunt's house that day. Maybe when the day would arrive, she would let her sister know.
At the same time, she knew what Beth meant and somewhere she agreed even though her heart wanted to ignore it. Men and women had indeed danced with more than one partner. There had also been a time where he wasn't dancing but standing idle, giving her a smile from a distance which she had returned with a polite one.
Madeline then changed the conversation to say, "The food was delicious, wasn't it? They had these beautiful cakes."
"Expect nothing less from the King's hospitality," Beth replied, "There were so many chandeliers I think I stopped counting once we reached the ballroom. Mama kept speaking about this fountain, and now I wished I had stepped out of the room. If it weren't for the number of men who kept asking me to dance with them," Beth shook her head that made Madeline smile.
"That is what happens when you're beautiful, isn't it," to Madeline, her sister Beth was the most beautiful one in the village. It wasn't that Beth was only beautiful, but the way she spoke, she could charm a person by her words.
"Oh, hush," Beth leaned down and kissed her on the side of her little sister's head, "Only you and mama praise me."
Madeline couldn't stop but smile, "You are my sister."
"And you are mine," Beth responded with a smile, squeezing Madeline's shoulders gently to let it go finally.
"Did you like anyone? Anyone who caught your fancy?" Madeline asked, eager to know as it was hard to please Beth. She had turned herself to see Beth taking both their dresses to place it in the cupboard.
Beth had a thoughtful look on her face, "Hmm, I think Mr. Danvers was interesting. He appeared to be smarter than giving me a love-struck expression. I mean the other is good that he travels, but I think it would turn out very lonely. Better to have someone who is around you."
"Certainly."
Madeline, who had finished brushing her hair, placed the comb on the dressing table to hear her sister say, "It is a shame though that the King didn't appear. I heard from a lady that he was away from the castle; therefore, he had people from the village invited because he wouldn't want to mingle with us, but then another said that the King would appear later. But you know, later never appeared."
With their clothes changed and everything put aside that had been used, they got inside the bed getting ready to sleep. The house of Harris wasn't big but had two rooms, one hall and one kitchen. Madeline blew the candle that was on her side of the bed and placed her head on the pillow.
She was glad that the night was done. As beautiful as the castle and other things were, she couldn't help but think about the silver masked man she had come across.
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